Tubemaking apparatus



April 1953 F. c. HE'STERMAN 2,635,572

TUBEMAKING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 1953 v F. c. HESTERMAN 2,635,572

TUBEMAKING APPARATUS Filed May 13, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. C. HESTERMAN TUBEMAKING APPARATUS v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 21, 1953 Filed May 13, 1947 .JZZ .95

April 21, 1953 F. c. HESTERMAN TUBEMAKING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 13, 1947 P 1953 F. c. HESTERMAN 2,635,572

TUBEMAKING APPARATUS Filed May 15, 1947 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 21, 1953 TUBEMAKING APPARATUS Francis Carl Hesterman, Elgin, Ill., assignor to Chicago Metal Hose Corporation, Maywood, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application May 13, 1947, Serial No. 747,795

Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus and methods for making flexible metal tubing, and concerns particularly the manufacture of tubing of relatively large size and heavy Wall thickness.

In the manufacture of flexible metal tubing, problems may be presented dependent to a considerable extent upon the character and size of the tubing to be fabricated. Thus in the fabrication of flexible tubing of relatively large size, for example 5 inches in diameter and above, and

of relatively heavy wall thickness, problems are presented in the production of a satisfactory tubing, by economical and readily operable means, due to the size and weight factors involved; and the necessity, in many instances, for determining the size to meet the requirements of special installations.

In accordance with the present invention satisfactorily operable tube making means and methods are provided, hereinafter to be more specifically described, wherein the tubing is fabricated from an elongated metal strip which is profiled, helically wrapped, and butt-welded to form the finished tubing; such means and methods being operable to effect the proper formation of tubing of various sizes and kinds, including tubing of the relatively larger sizes and of heavy wall thickness.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved apparatus and methods, of the foregoing type, for effecting the manufacture of flexible metal tubing.

More specifically stated, it is an object of the invention to provide improved tube making apparatus and methods of the type defined, Wherein flexible metal tubing, including tubing in relatively large sizes, may be more economically and readily fabricated; and wherein an improved product of controlled contour and insured tightness is produced.

Various other more specific objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein one preferred embodiment is set forth for illustrative purposes.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout:

Figs. 1 and 2 are plan and side views, respectively, somewhat diagrammatic in form, of a tube making apparatus constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is an illustrative perspective view of the strip of which the tubing is formed, after profiling, and prior to ceiling and welding;

Fig. 4 is an illustrative view of the completed tubing, a part thereof being illustrated in section to show the nature of the construction;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged and more detailed view ofthe coiling and welding head of the machine, said view being taken as indicated by the line 55 of Fig. 1; I

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the coiling and weld ing head structures of Figs. 5 and 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the head structure and associated tubing, on a further enlarged scale, and taken as indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a sectional detail view of a portion of the structure of Fig. 8, taken as indicated by the line 9-9 thereof;

Fig. 10 is a further view of the welding head and associated parts shown in Fig. 9, taken as indicated by the line l0l0 thereof; and

Fig. 11 is a detail sectional view of the bending roller and associated parts of the machine, said view being taken as indicated by the line H-ll of Fig. 5.

The particular illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings sets forth a machine adapted for the manufacture of tubing within the range of 5-12 inches in diameter, and having a wall thickness for example within the range of .030-.090 inch wall thickness, made from cold rolled strip steel. While the invention may thus be used, as has hereinbefore been set forth, in the fabrication of relatively large size tubing, up to 30 inches in diameter and more, and is in certain of its aspects particularly adapted to such use; it is to be understood that various of the principles and aspects of the invention are adapted for the manufacture of flexible metal tubing, generally, of various types and kinds, of various kinds of metal or alloys, and in the relatively smaller sizes.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the general layout of the machine is indicated somewhat diagrammatically in Figs. 1 and 2. The machine comprises a main frame I0 having a plurality of sets of profiling rollers Hl2, I l-l6, l820, 22-24 and 2628, there being five sets of rollers provided in the particular embodiment disclosed. The sets of rollers are successively engageable with the tube strip 30, which is delivered to the rollers from a suitable source of supply; and the sets of rollers are shaped so as to impart progressively to the initially flat strip a W-shaped cross section, as best shown in Fig. 3. The strip is provided with this shaping as it leaves the last set of profiling rollers 26--28. Preferably at least one roller of each pair is driven by suitable means, not shown, so that the strip is propelled between the rollers; screw means being provided, as indicated at 32, for holding the rollers in clamping engagement with the strip to effect the profiling operation.

From the final set of profiling rollers, the strip is delivered to a pair of guide rollers 34-36 which effect the guiding of the strip to a combined coiling and welding head structure, generally indicated by the numeral 38, from which the strip issues in completed tubular form, as best indicated in Fig. 1. The head structure 38 is carried by a subframe 1.0a connected to the main frame 10 in a mannerlater to be described. The completed tubing 40 is projected laterally away from the winding and welding head in a spiral or screw threaded manner in a direction as indicated by the arrow 42 in Fig. 1. Support rollers 44 provide support for the tubing as it issues from the forming head. The completed tubing, as best indicated in Fig. 4, is comprised of the spirally Wrapped tube strip, the juxtaposed strip edges being butt-welded by means of a spirally extending seam, as indicated at 46.

The structure of the coiling and winding head 38 is shown in Figs. -7, and in various details in Figs. 8-11. As the strip issues from the guide rollers 3436 it is delivered to a pair of driven pinch rolls 48-5G, Figs. '5 and 8, formed as a part of the head structure. The roll 48 functions as a mandrel in the bending of the tubing, as will presently appear, the rolls being cooperatively shaped to conform to the 'w-shaping of the strip. As best shown in Fig. 8, these rolls are mounted, respectively, upon shafts 52 and 54 journalled in the subframe Illa of the coiling and welding head 38 and interconnected by means of gears 56 and 58; the shaft 54 being driven from a power source 59, Fig. 6, in timed relation with the movement of the profiling rollers, so as to effect the driving of the pinch rolls in predetermined speedrelation therewith. Preferably the pinch rolls are driven at a slightly faster speed than the peripheral speed of the profiling rolls so that the pinch rolls exert a slight drawing as well as driving action upon the strip in the operation of the machine. Screw adjustment means as indicated at 50, is provided for urging the rolls into pinched engagement with the strip, in accordance with the thickness thereof. As best shown in Fig. 6, the upper guide roll 34 engages into the central trough 62, Fig. 3, of the strip so that by lateral adjustment of the guide roll 34 the strip may be properly fed into engagement with the driven pinch rolls 4850. The cooperable lower guide roll 36 preferably comprises a flat cylinder engageable with the strip to hold it in engagement with the guide roll 34.

From the pinch rolls 48-50 the tube strip 30 is driven into engagement with a bending roll 64, Figs. 5 and 11, which functions to form the strip into a predetermined arc of curvature, this roll thus functioning to bend the strip and determine the diameter of the finishing tubing. The roll 64 is journalled in the end of a yoke member 66, which yoke member is ,adjustably carried by an auxiliary frame member or arm 68 pivotally mounted upon the shaft 54; the arm 68 thus being pivotally mounted in respect to the head frame Ina of the machine about the axis of rotation of the pinch roll 50. More particularly, the yoke member .66 is pivotally car ried by the end of a screw 10 having threaded engagement with the arm 68, and adapted to be held in position, when adjusted, by a lock nut 72. It will be seen that by the pivotal movement of the arm 68 in respect to its mounting shaft 54, the bending roller 64 may be readily moved to and from operative position; and by the preadjustment of the screw T0, the position of the roller 64 when brought into operative position may be preadjusted, as desired.

. To effect the pivotal movement of arm 58, the lower portion thereof is provided with a cam 74, Fig. 5, adapted to be engaged by a roller it carried by the end of a yoke member 78 forming one arm of a bell-crank structure, the other arm of which is formed as a hand lever 89 projecting laterally away from the machine for convenient manual manipulation. By lifting the arm 68 into approximate operative position, and then swinging the hand lever 88 counterclock wise into the position shown in Fig. 5, the roller "16 may be brought .onto a self-locking cam surface 'i 4a of the cam 14 so as to raise and lock the arm 63 into its uppermost operative position, as shown. It will be seen that by reason 0 the connections provided, the bending roller 84 will always be brought accurately into its predetermined operative position by manipulation of the hand lever, while at the same time permitting ready access to the pinch rolls and associated parts of the machine for strip adjustment purposes and strip threading, as may be required. Further, the adjustment of screw ill effects the adjustable positioning of the bending roller 64, for effecting the bending of the strip into tubing of different diameters.

As the strip leaves the bending roller o4 it passes into engagement with a guide shoe 82, Fig. '5, arcuate'ly shaped to conform to the curvature of the tubing, and helically disposed to conform to the coiled contour of the particular curved strip being formed. This shoe is carried by a block 84, Fig. 6, formed on the end of a shaft'iiii which is longitudinally adjustable and also ro'tatably mounted within a sleeve member 58 forming a part of a tool bracket 9 To effect the longitudinal movement of the shaft 83 within the sleeve, the threaded end 9| thereof has threaded engagement with a suitable adjustment nut as indicated at 92; the shaft being adapted to be locked after adjustment by a lock pin E34 provided with an operating handle 95 so as to lock the shaft in a desired longitudinal and rotatable adjusted position.

The tool bracket is pinned to a shaft 58, Fig. 6, longitudinally and rotatably adjustable within a slide bracket I00 so that the tool bracket may be variously positioned in respect thereto. A nut I02 has threaded engagement with the shaft 98 to effect the longitudinal positioning thereof, the shaft being looked after positioning by means of a lock pin I03 similar to the lock pin 94 previously described. To eifect the rotatable positioning of the shaft, an arm I04, Fig. .5, is formed as a part of the tool bracket 90, this arm being pivotally connected by means of a pin N16 to a cap bracket M8 having screw threaded engagement with one. end of a right and left-hand threaded adjustment screw H9. The opposite end of the adjustment screw is threadedly connected to a bracket H2 which is pivoted to the slide bracket 10.!) as indicated at H4. A lock nut H6 is provided for holding the screw H0 in adjusted position.

It will be seen that by reason of the connections provided, the tool bracket 98 may be variously positioned in respect to its supporting slide bracket I80, and the shoe carrying shaft 86 may also be variously positioned in respect to the tool bracket structure, so as to effect the proper positioning of the guide shoe in respect to the tubing being formed. The guide shoe 82, and the positioning thereof, insures the proper movement of the strip from the pinch rolls 48-50 to and past the bending or forming roll 64.

As best shown in Fig. 7, the slide bracket I88 is vertically adjustable within ways II8 forming a part of the main frame structure, the vertical adjustments of the slide being controllable by means of a manually operable sleeve I28 rotatably carried by the slide bracket and arranged to have screw threaded engagement with an upstanding screw shaft I22 anchored to the head frame structure.

As the strip is propelled past the trailing end of the guide shoe 82, it is brought into juxtaposition with a gas welding torch I24, Fig. 5. The trailing end of the guide shoe 82 and the welding torch I24 are simultaneously operable upon the same strip portion, so that the guide shoe 82 accordingly holds the strip in position at the welding station. As best shown in Figs. 8 and 10, the guide shoe 82 engages within one groove of the W-shaped strip 30, whereas the welding torch I24 is juxtaposed to the opposite strip edge so that there is no interference between the parts.

The welding head I24 is carried at the lower end of an adjustable frame I26, Fig. 5. This frame is in effect universally mounted so that the proper adjustments may be imparted thereto, in accordance with the requirements of the particular tubing being formed. More particularly, the head frame I Ila carries a yoke or bracket I28, Figs. 6 and 7, pivotally supported upon the frame and adapted to be locked in adjusted position by means of a pivot bolt I30. The upper ends of the arms or bracket I 28 support a shaft I32 upon which is adjustably carried a bracket I 34 adapted to be locked in position by a lock stud I35. The bracket I34 is in turn arranged to adjustably support a shaft I36, Fig. 7, held in place by a lock stud I38, the end of which carries a bracket I48. As best shown in Fig. 5, this latter bracket I48 is arranged to slidably receive a rack I42 forming a part of the frame I26, the rack being longitudinally adjustable within the bracket I40 by means of a rack engaging gear and connected hand wheel I44, as indicated. By reason of the connections described, it will be seen that the welding head I24 may be variously adjusted for proper cooperation with the juxtaposed strip edges to be welded, as indicated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

The Welding head I24 is supplied with acetylene and oxygen, or other suitable gases for effecting the gas welding operation, by means of a pair of flexible supply conduits I48 and I48, Fig. 5, the supply being controllable by means of valves I58. The tube I52, forming a part of the frame I26, and through which the gases are passed to and in the vicinity of the welding head, is cooled by means of a cooling coil I54, supplied with cooling water from a pair of circulating coolant conduits as indicated at I56 and I58. These conduits are also arranged to circulate water directly to and through the welding head I24, in suitable manner, to eifect the cooling thereof.

As best shown in Fig. 9, it will be seen that the gas flame emitted from the welding head, as indicated at I68, first effects the preheating of the tubing strip, and then as the welding head and strip are brought into closest juxtaposition, the flame directly impinges upon the abutting strip edges to effect and complete a butt-welding thereof.

As the strip leaves the welding station it is brought into engagement, after substantially three-quarters of a turn, with a guide roller I62, Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10, properly disposed to engage Within the strip trough previously engaged by the guide shoe 82 in the previous turn of movement. This guide roller is carried by a, shaft I64, Fig. 6, adjustably mounted within a head I86, and arranged to be locked therein by means of a locking clamp I68. The head I66 is carried on the end of a shaft I18 longitudinally and rotatably adjustable within a cylindrical portion I12 of the bracket 88, previously described, the shaft I10 being adapted to be locked in position within such bracket portion by means of a clamp or look I14. It will be seen that by reason of the parts described, when considered in connection with the adjustable mounting for the bracket 90, as previously set forth, an adjustable support for the guide roller I62 is provided so that it may be properly positioned for cooperation with the tubing strip.

As the strip continues its movement, it is next brought into engagement with a guide roller I16, Figs. 5, 6, 8 and 10, engageable with the strip adjacent the welding station, but suitably laterally positioned in respect to the Welding head I24. This guide roller I16 is carried by a shaft I18, Fig. 6. adjustably mounted within a head structure I88, and arranged to be adjustably held therein by means of a clamp I82. The head I88 is carried at the lower end of a shaft I84, Fig. 5, longitudinally and rotatably adjustable within a bracket I86, and adapted to be locked in position therein by means of a clamp I88. The bracket I86 is carried at the end of an elongated arm I98, Fig. 6, formed as a part of a slide I92, the latter being reciprocably adjustable along a track structure formed on an upstanding bracket I84 of the frame Illa, and being adjustably clamped in position thereon by means of a lock nut I96. By reason of the mounting structures thus provided it will be seen that the guide roller I16 may be variously and properly positioned for cooperation with the trough of the tube strip adjacent the welding station, as shown in Figs. 8 and 10.

As the strip progresses in its movement, it is next engaged by a further guide roll I98, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 8. This latter guide roll is carried by a shaft 288, Fig. 5, carried by a bracket 262, the latter being carried by the end of a shaft 284 rotat-ably and longitudinally adjustable within a head slide 286, and arranged to be clamped therein by means of a clamp as indicated at 208. The head slide 286 is supported by and horizontally shiftable along a pivoted bracket arm 2I8, Fig. 5, the head slide being arranged to be locked in position by means of a clamp nut as indicated at 2I2. The bracket arm 2I8 is pivotally mounted upon the head frame Illa as indicated at 2I4, Fig. 5, the pivotal adjustment of the arm 2II1 being controlled by a right and left-hand screw threaded adjustment member 2 I 6, in a manner similar to the arrangement of the adjustment screw I I8 previously described. By reasons of the connections thus provided, it will be seen that the guide roller [98 may be variously positioned for proper engagement with the tube strip, to complete the guiding thereof, as shown.

By reason of the construction thus provided it will be seen that the strip edges are properly held for effective welding at the welding station, the strip being effectively guided as it moves to the welding station and as it recedes therefrom so that the strip edges will be properly juxtaposed and held in position until effectively sealed by the setting of the weld. Adjustability of the bending roller 64, as previously set forth, permits the varied and accurate control of the tubing diameter, and the adjustability of the welding head and the several associated guide means permits the arrangement thereof so that the parts may perform their proper functions. The welding torch, arranged as described, heats the juxtaposed strip edges, in a controlled and predictable manner, it being understood, however, that specifically different welding means may be employed, including a helical'ly shaped electric arc welding electrode torch or shoe.

To further adjust the completed tubing, in its delivery from the machine, and control the stresses in the tubing strip soas to insure effective welding and sealing, the frame llla of the coiling and welding head structure is adjustably mounted in respect to the main frame I6 of the machine, in a manner as indicated in Figs. and 7. More particularly, the frame [0a is supported by a pair of trunnions 218 and 229 mounted in the frame [9, the frame Ilia being thus pivotally mounted in respect to the main frame [6 so as to control the manner of ejection of the completed tubing from the coiling and welding head structure. The frame Illa may be locked in adjusted position by means of a clamp bolt 222, Fig. 5, the pivotal adjustment of the frame being effected by a pair of adjustment bolts 22 i and 226, Fig. 7, as will be understood.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the specific embodiment set forth Without departing from the spirit of the invention. The invention is accordingly not to be limited to the specific embodiment shown and described, but only as indicated in the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for making spiral seam corrugated tubing comprising means for feeding a profiled elongated metal strip of substantially undulant cross section, such as a W-shape, a bending roll against which the strip is abutted for effecting the coiling thereof into tubular form, welding means disposed at a welding station circumferentially spaced from said bending roll for welding the strip edges in abutting relationship to form the tubing, guide means disposed between the bending roll and the welding station in close axial advance of said welding means for engaging the tubing and maintaining the strip edges thereof in abutting relation during welding, a guide member substantially opposing said guide means and close on the opposite side of said welding means for engaging the tubing to also maintain the strip edges in abutting relation during welding, said guide means, guide member and welding means being in close relative circumferential spacing to axially and radially confinethe strip edges in their abutting relation, and a guide element disposed axially between said guide means and said guide member but spaced circumferentially thereof and of said welding means for engaging said tubing to provide additional remote support for the strip edges during and after welding, said guide means engaging the tubing from a point substantially immediately adjacent the welded area of the tubing at the welding station throughout a substantial arcuate distance in advance of the welding station toward said guide element.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the welding means includes an elongated heating area substantially tangential to the tubing surface with the rear end thereof more remote from the tubing surface whereby to efiect a preheating of the strip edges prior to welding thereof. r

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide means is in the form of an arcuate shoe having its trailing edge engaging the tube throughout the area of preheating by the weld ing means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide member and. guide element are in the form of rollers and the guide means consists of an arcuate shoe extending between said rollers.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the welding means consists of a gas torch.

FRANCIS CARL HES'IERMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 828,732 Frankenberg Aug. 14, 1906 965,171 Erickson July 26, 1910 967,260 Witzenmann Aug. 16, 1910 1,372,835 Schroder Mar. 29, 1921 1,523,927 Beebe Jan. 20, 1925 1,580,760 Palmer Apr. 13, 1926 1,596,215 Palmer Aug. 17, 1926 1,598,872 Palmer Sept. 7, 1926 1,659,792 Thorsby Feb. 21, 1928 1,739,757 Hand Dec. 17, 1929 2,036,673 Anderson Apr. 7, 1936 2,158,796 Harrah May 16, 1939 2,162,355 Parrish June 13, 1939 2,313,329 Evert Mar. 9, 1943 2,431,743 Featress Dec. 2, 1947 2,432,666 Isenberg Dec. 16, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 62,797 Germany of 1892 

